Day 3 (January 12, 2023): A Day of Art and Music

Today was the first full day of the FMEA conference for Pam, so while she was jumping from workshop to workshop, I was jumping from pool to Conceirge Lounge (for lattes) and back!

In the afternoon, I did venture out into Tampa, however, taking the famous Tampa Riverwalk north from the hotel to the west side of Downtown Tampa, to visit the Tampa Museum of Art (TMA).  Designed by architect, Stanley Saitowitz, TMA sits on the Hillsborough River, adjacent to Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park (which was cordoned off, as the park was being turned into a festival venue). The TMA isn’t an overwhelming place.  It does have six galleries, from Greek and Roman antiquities to photography and new media art pieces, but it was all very enjoyable and didn’t leave me with a headache by the time I was finished! 

I walked halfway back to the Marriott and then jumped on the TECO Line Streetcar back to the hotel.  Getting around central Tampa is incredibly easy, thanks to this historic, exciting and FREE! streetcar service.

We joined up with Karen and Mike for hors d’oeuvres in the Concierge Lounge, then headed to a concert by the University Singers (amazing!!) of Florida Central State University, followed by dessert and lattes back in the Concierge Lounge, topped off by a jazz concert by the Jazz Ambassadors of the US Army Field Band, which is the premier jazz band of the entire US Army.  And let me tell you, they don’t wear that distinction without justification.  It was a world-class show.

Pam loved the FMEA conference offerings today, and I loved just chilling out and relaxing.  All in all, it was a wonderful day.



Sunrise from our 27th floor room at the Tampa Marriott.


The Tampa Museum of Art, on the western edge of Downtown Tampa, adjacent to the Hillsbororough River and its famous Riverwalk.

Here are my six favourite works of art from the Tampa Museum of Art:


This impressive piece hangs over the stairway to the six galleries of the Tampa Museum of Art.


“Simply Beautiful” (2013) by Cuban artist, Mabel Poblet, is, well, simply beautiful!  It is a series of spinning motorized bicycle wheels filled with red plastic flowers, on acrylic panels.


“Road to Exile” (2018) by Cameroonian artist, Bathelemy Toguo, tells the plight of African boat refugees seeking a better life in Europe.  It comprises a wooden boat, fabric sacks, plastic containers and glass bottles.


I found “Dropping a Hun Dynasty Urn” (2015) by Chinese artist, Ai Weiwei, so intriguing because it is a triptych made of Lego blocks!  The photos in the triptych are three-dimensional.  How Ai Weiwei made this boggles my mind.


This room-sized work by American artist, Purvis Young, was compiled between 1985-1999.  It is untitled.  The scale of the work earned it a “top six” for me.


“Air Fer Mer” (2010) by French artist, Dominique Labauvie, is made of forged and waxed steel.  It is one of three steel works by the artist in an outdoor gallery at TMA.


Rivergate Tower may remind you of a cheese grater or may appear like a blah tube in some respects.  But I was really taken with this piece of architecture.  To the right, you see the Tampa Riverwalk and the Hillsborough River.  There is just something about this structure, as you walk the Riverwalk, that makes it difficult to take your eyes off it.


On the west bank of the Hillsborough River is the University of Tampa.  Its “Plant Hall” contains several iconic metal domes than shimmer in the Florida sun.


The Old Steel Railway Bridge on the Hillsborough River, to the west of Downtown Tampa.


The historic TECO Line Streetcar snakes its way from Downtown Tampa to the historic Ybor City, east of Downtown.  It makes getting around the core of Tampa so easy.


Sightseeing aside, and returning to the Florida Music Education Association’s conference, we ended the day with two incredible performances.  Above, the University Singers (Florida Central State University) ended their stunning concert with the encore selection, We Shall Overcome.  Truly moving.


And a final concert of the day started at 9:15PM:  The Jazz Amabassadors of the US Army Field Band.  One would be hard-pressed to find a better jazz band in the land!

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